Nigerian-French singer, songwriter, and recording artiste, Bukola Elemide known professionally as Asa has released her first single two years after her last release. Titled ODO, her first for the year 2024, would be released tomorrow (was released today), Thursday, February 1.
The multi-award-winning and one of Nigeria’s most critically acclaimed musicians whose last release date back to May 2022 with the children’s lullaby Little Darling, had on Tuesday, January 30 via a post on X (formerly Twitter) excited fans with the announcement for the single release.
Known for her introversion, Asa has made a name for herself as one of Nigeria’s finest composers whose music packs weighty African folk elements. Her music influences and inspiration stems from the collection of her father’s playlist built up for his work as a cinematographer.
These records featuring American, Nigerian and African soul classics, included artistes such as Marvin Gaye, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, Bob Marley, Aretha Franklin, King Sunny Ade, Diana Ross, Nina Simone, and Miriam Makeba.
As a breakout star, the 41-year old international music heavyweight earned her ‘Headies Album of the Year Prize’ with the self-titled album, Asa (Asha), which charted on Radio station across Europe, Asia, and Africa and went on to win the prestigious French Constantin Award in 2008 when she was voted the best fresh talent of 10 singers or groups by a jury of 19 music-industry specialists in Paris.
Her debut single, Eyé Adaba received massive airplay, just as her second album, Beautiful Imperfection, in collaboration with French composer Nicolas Mollard, released on October 25, 2010, went platinum in 2011. It was reported that by 2014 Aṣa sold 400,000 copies of the album worldwide.
In August 2014 Asa released her third studio album, Bed of Stone, with singles Dead Again, Eyo, Satan Be Gone, The One That Never Comes and Moving On. She went on a world tour from 2015 to 2017. On May 14, 2019, she released a new single titled The Beginning and on June 25, 2019, she released the single Good Thing.
On September 11, 2019, Asa announced on her Twitter page (now X) that her new album, Lucid, will be released on October 11, which it was. She followed with another album titled V on February 25, 2022 featuring Wizkid, Nigerian highlife duo The Cavemen and Ghanaian artiste Amaarae.
